Cheering Speech by the

Tahiti Prospers

Cheering Speech by the Governor

By Ray P. Davis

Papeete, Jan. 25.

DECLARING that Tahiti had remained more than five months without out side contact after Pearl Harbour, Governor Georges Orselli, head of Fight ing France’s island empire in the South Seas, cited in a speech here an amazing record of economic and political recovery since the “traitors of Vichy signed an armistice at Compiegne.”

As administrator for the 132 islands of French Oceania, which are now shipping their entire copra production to America and Canada, Governor Orselli, speaking before the annual meeting of Tahiti’s Economic and Financial Delegates, or Congress, drew a picture of the position of this area after the capitulation of France, and then after Japan turned the peaceful Pacific into a battlefield.

“Only slightly more than a year ago,” he said, “we were still suffering from the blow of that troubled period which was, here as elsewhere, the result of the armistice signed at Compiegne by the traitors of Vichy. Economically and politically we were still suffering the consequences. And then to that was added the outbreak of the total war in the Pacific, the memory of the first Japanese successes after their brutal attack on Honolulu.

“The enemy was advancing toward us.

The war was at our doors. All those who, through interest, opportunism, or treachery, proclaimed themselves of Vichy or Saigon, raised their heads and prepared to receive the invader. We had to grit our teeth and make an appeal to the energy and the work of everyone in order to keep steadfast.

“Now more than a year has passed.

The wheel has turned. And among us we are finally beginning to see the end: Victory and the liberation of France.”

FRENCH Oceania’s first task, after Japan’s treachery, was the defence of the islands, the Governor said.

“Your sons responded to the call. Under the direction of their young leaders they have prepared themselves. They are the brothers of those who died for France at Bir Hakeim. The Japanese will never enter Papeete as they entered Saigon.”

He pointed out the gravity of the eco nomic situation here after Pearl Harbour, which temporarily disrupted Pacific shipping, a vital necessity for Tahiti’s exports. “The Japanese menace was pressing upon the routes of communica tion. We remained more than five months without liaison with the outside world.

“■'YTOW, however, the situation has been ameliorated. All of our products are being exported. All of our essential needs are satisfied. The list of imports and exports last year will equal that of the strongest year in peacetime.

Our copra has sold for a year at advan tageous prices; our pearl shell is of the first quality. Only vanilla, after having attained an unhoped-for level, actually knew hard times, but still brings remu nerative prices. A reserve stock of essen tial products has been set up, good for four to eight months, and our reserve of foreign credits is sufficient for a year of good living.

“The administrative and financial ser vices are actually functioning under cop

ditions at least as good as before the armistice, and are doing so with a decreased personnel and with increased work, such as providing for supplies and military allocations.”

GOVERNOR Orselli’s resume of pro gress made by the health service in French Oceania was equally opti mistic. “A doctor has been sent from Tahiti to the Marquesas, to the Isles Sous le Vent, to Taravao. At Papeete, in place of only two doctors, there are now eight. Regular and frequent medical tours are made in the districts of Tahiti, and to the other islands. The care at Papeete’s maternity hospital is rendered gratuitously for persons earning a small salary, and the price of the day hospital has been diminished by 50 per cent.

Work abandoned for three years on the hospital at Uturoa has been resumed.

And there is a provisioning of essential pharmaceutical products that will last more than a year.”

Also cited was the progress made by various administrators, by the judicial service, the service of public works, and in agriculture. These gains were made “in spite of increased work brought on by the necessity for military allocations and supplies, and other defence mea sures.

“17IROM the agricultural point of view, I 1 planting -and the labour for numer ous cultivated acres have been assured, and these are beginning to improve the Colony’s supplies. Efforts have been carried out in the development of cultured stocks, particularly of pea nuts, of sugar and tobacco. Important economic credits, amounting to millions, should result from the full realisation of the programme now in operation.

“Finally, I terminate this report with the measures taken for the amelioration of the fate of producers, consumers, and people on fixed salaries; that is to say, almost everyone!

“For the producers these are: The establishment of minimum purchase prices for copra and pearl shell, the fix ing of the price for freight on inter island boats, and the formation of a growers’ organisation.

“For the consumers there are: The fix ing of maximum profits on imported pro ducts, which abolishes the exorbitant benefits formerly enjoyed by certain merchants, and prohibits the hoisting of prices.

“The fixed salaried people have seen their situation improved by the institu tion of special temporary indemnities, and the increasing of zone indemnities.

“Fighting France,” Governor Orselli concluded, “can be proud of her work in Oceania. Soon victory will give back to France an Oceania richer, more beauti ful, and proud to have aided in libera tion. For the future, I ask you only to continue the wdrk of the past, to work still and always for France, for Tahiti, and for liberty.”